Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-03-17

back-it wor my Pete! o, soldiers. you
sent my boy back home 70 die with
bullet through his breastr and the old
man threw out his arms wildly; then
turned and hid his face On Roxy's
shoulder.
Not a man but felt that SIMPLE story
touch his heart. and Toby's big brown
eyes were wet with unshed tears.
The boy was clinging close to his
father now.
Say. pap, amt yer done got me?"
he whispered, wistfully.
er, bitterly. They've tux my Pete, an
what air you in his placer" So the
child shrank, trembling and repulsed,
down by the bundle of whitening sumao
The soldiers were going away quietly,
leaving the old man in peace, when
affair up the mountain road they discern
ed men in gray fastening in their di-
rection.
Boys" cried one as he sprang on
Roderick's back, ''we might as we'll
have this horse as those 'Rebsr Old
man, you'll have to lose your horse any
how-now he's gone in a good cause?'
And the others, following their leader,
made haste to get into the road and
away to place of safety. leaving Abe
Potts frozen to the ground with wonder
and despair. That night, as Roxy sat
sadly knitting socks for those who were
| fighting so bravely, Toby crept up and
ieant his elbows on her knees.
Roxy he whispered, IF yer don't
see Toby no more arter ter night, don't
be skeercd! Pm agoin' arter Rod'rick,"
he said, solemnly, as his sister started
with surprise.
mo, no, Tobe!' winding her strong,
young arms close about his thin, little
! form. you We got to stay hyah an take
keer of us now" she murmured. sootEt-
ingly. as gently swaying to and fro she
rocked his head in her lap Two big
tears fell on her busy fingers, then press
ing kiss on her sunburnt cheek, be
drew near the bright wood fire and sat
till holding his face between his hands,
watching, perhaps for the last time. the
pine knots blaze and burn; watching
till the light died down to red ashes,
then crumbled into dust. When the sun
rose again, gliding the purple mountain
peaks and touching the tiny clouds till
they glowed like molten silver, lobe
was far on his way to the Federal camp.
Morning waxed to noontide and still
/ the little figure in patched clothes cover
ed with dust travelled unweariedlv.
Now and then stopping to battle his
feet in some wayside spring, snatching
q fallen apple kissed too holly by the
autumn sun, on and on past the swell
ing hills, fond and projecting as moth
| er's breasts, till the long shadows
stretch, like Grants arms, toward the
sea- Another turn in the rocky road
and Toby sees tents pitched closed at
| hand, before which sentinels in blue
uniform pass necessarily.
Toby brings no passport, nothing but
brave heart and pair of big brown
want to be q stable boy. do you,
Johnny Reb?" laughs the soldier.
Toby pulls his forelock in imitation
of military etiquette. 1t pleases the man,
who, slapping him not unkindly on his
thin shoulders, pushes him toward the
Enclosure. There's the stable. Go see
what you can do!'
Saddle. the ndW. horse. tf qH BE Cnftltf2R Aim,
shouts private.
| An instant and the boys hand presses
the horses neck-well do they know
each other, playmates for years. The
horse bends his glossy neck in loving
submission. The color comes and goes
in Tobys check like pulse. This is
the moment for him to act, and like q
| flash he is In his accustomed seat and
| together they dash at the rude log fence,
clearing it at one bound, and fly madly
| across the grass out TO the open road.
A whistling sound breaks the air near
Toby's head-another and another as
they go like q pent-up storm. Toby's
hat lies back in the camp and his brown
| hair flies out straight behind Linn.
| they are following him. 1t was too
much for little Rebel to steal such Il
horse under their very noses, and three
soldiers are coming in hot pursuit.
Roderick knows it too and strains
himself to the utmost; he leaps across
the parched brook, up the mountain
side, breaking the dry twi gs and seal
tering the fallen leaves. Bullets were
whizzlng through the hazy air and Io5y
feels Il sharp, quick pain in his st'e--it
is nothing, he understanding strikes
his arm and it drops powerless 10 h.,
side; but the faithful horse knows the
beloved form he carries and seems by
the swaying of his body to hold the
rider firm. The three soldiers are close
upon them now. Toby could hear their
shouts but that he is sunk into sort OF
dream. He seems to be gathering
sumac or the golden mountain side with
Roxy. and looking up sees Roderick fly
ing past. Three men are close bohind
him, and in front cloud of dust rise,
up like smoke from 4 battle ground.
There are more soldiers behind the
cloud-soldiers in gray. who are cheer
ing family in the distance. The boy
reels in his seat. but rousing himself in
time catches the horses silky nla,le
close in his fingers.
Roderlck knows that be must win this
race for Ii ;'erty. and with Il final effort
6ashes forward on the home stretch,
The shouts of the srays rend the air as
the next moment they surround the
fugitiyes.
A tall, angular figure catches the boy